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Two girls hurt when retaining wall falls in Fitchburg

Sentinel & Enterprise

Updated:
04/22/2014 06:30:53 AM EDT

FITCHBURG -- Two young girls were sent to area hospitals when a retaining wall behind 51 Pine St. collapsed Saturday evening, according to Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Dateo and acting Police Capt. Linda Swears.

They said the girls were playing on the concrete wall when a portion of it collapsed with the girls underneath it. Swears said the girls are 6 and 9 years old.

She said one of the children was unresponsive at the time the call came in Saturday about 5:45 p.m., but was conscious and alert when EMTs arrived. Swears said the other child had her leg stuck under a portion of the wall but did not appear to have any major injuries.

Dateo said the girls were transported in separate ambulances to local hospitals. The child with the lesser injuries was transported to HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster, and the more seriously injured child was transported to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, where she was admitted to the intensive-care unit, he said.

Bar owner charged with assault

FITCHBURG -- The owner of Majors Cafe on Lunenburg Street was arrested on multiple charges early Monday morning after she allegedly attempted to run over her boyfriend with her car, according to acting Capt. Linda Swears.

Ellen L. Reffitt, 50, of 30 Holt St., is charged with four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of assault and battery, and larceny from a person.

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According to Swears, Reffitt and her 51-year-old boyfriend got into a dispute Monday about 3 a.m., that began inside and moved out into the street. Reffitt allegedly physically assaulted the man before attempting to strike him with her vehicle, Swears said, and was accused of stealing the man's medication.

According to Fitchburg District Court documents, Reffitt is also due for an arraignment May 6 on charges of assault and battery and larceny over $250, stemming from an alleged incident in December with the same man.

Joy ride ends in arrests for 3 teens

FITCHBURG -- A late-night joy ride turned sour for three teens when they crashed a parent's stolen BMW car and were arrested early Monday morning, according to acting Capt. Linda Swears.

Analdy M. Ramirez, 18, of 26 Linden St., is charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, failure to stop for police, failure to stop or yield, leaving the scene of property damage and a marked-lanes violation.

Two juveniles, ages 14 and 16, are both charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

According to Swears, police saw the blue 2011 BMW, which belongs to the 16-year-old's mother, on Water Street on Monday shortly after 3 a.m. When an officer attempted to pull the vehicle over for a defective taillight, the vehicle continued onto Newton Street, resulting in a brief chase, she said. The officer lost sight of the vehicle for a short time on Albee Street, Swears said, but the vehicle hit two parked cars.

The teens abandoned the car and fled, she said, but were apprehended a short distance away.

Report of shots fired leads to drug arrest

FITCHBURG -- A report of shots fired on Blossom Street early Saturday morning led to a drug arrest almost 24 hours later, according to acting Capt. Linda Swears.

About 4:30 a.m., there were multiple reports of six or seven shots fired in the vicinity of 167 Blossom St., Swears said. A bullet hole was found in a second-floor window of the home, she said, and several shell casings were found on the street. A black Nissan Murano with tinted windows had reportedly fled the scene.

On Sunday, about 3:30 a.m., a Fitchburg State University officer reported seeing a vehicle matching the description and reported it to Fitchburg police, Swears said. The report led officers to 190 Blossom St., she said, and they encountered about 15 people in the driveway and conducted pat-frisks for safety.

Before Emmanuel Feliciano raised his hands, Swears said, he allegedly tossed a package on the ground. That package was found to allegedly contain cocaine, she said.

During booking, another similar package of cocaine was also allegedly found on Feliciano, she said.

Feliciano, 26, of 47 Arlington St., Apt. 1, is charged with two counts of possession of a Class B drug and possession of a Class B drug with intent to distribute. According to police logs, $2,820 in cash was also found at the scene.

Child tells teacher of alleged abuse

FITCHBURG -- A Kimball Street man was arrested Thursday after his son alerted his teacher at Crocker Elementary School to alleged abuse he was experiencing at home, according to acting Capt. Linda Swears.

Jacob L. Melendez, 22, of 268 Kimball St., Apt. 1, is charged with assault and battery on a child with injury.

According to Swears, the 5-year-old boy told a teacher that Melendez was abusing him. A nurse checked the boy and found bruising on his right shoulder and buttocks, she said. The Department of Children and Families was notified immediately by the school, and Fitchburg police were called to assist, Swears said. Melendez was arrested a short time later at home, she said.

Man charged with hitting officer

FITCHBURG -- A Leominster man already facing several charges racked up further charges when he allegedly tussled with a police officer attempting to arrest him on a warrant, according to acting Capt. Linda Swears.

Brandon Aho, 29, of 1030 Pleasant St., is charged with assault and battery on a police officer, carrying a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

According to Swears, police attempted to arrest Aho at a Main Street apartment Sunday afternoon on a warrant for charges of aggravated assault and battery, armed robbery, home invasion and larceny over $250 stemming from an incident March 2 on Mechanic Street.

As Officer Derek Sullivan tried to cuff Aho, he allegedly attempted to flee the scene, Swears said, leading to a lengthy struggle before Sullivan succeeded in arresting him.

Police: Men beat one's ex-wife, dog

FITCHBURG -- Two Fitchburg men were arrested early Saturday morning after they allegedly assaulted one man's ex-wife and her dog, according to acting Capt. Linda Swears.

Venson T. Pickett, 51, of 401 Main St., Apt. 3, is charged with assault and battery and animal cruelty. Conan J. Gentile, 42, of 50 Day St., Apt. 108, is charged with assault and battery.

Swears said the men assaulted Pickett's 36-year-old ex-wife as she was attempting to leave with her dog.

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